Ilsur Metshin has had a meeting with writer Sergei Shargunov

(KZN.RU, March 31, Alsu Safina). Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin has met today with the new guest of the art residence "Old Tatar Sloboda" - Russian writer Sergei Shargunov. The guest shared his impressions of the unique Kazan project. The head of the city invited Sergey Shargunov to take part in the annual "Aksenov-fest". Ildar Abuzyarov, the writer and curator of the project of the art residence also took part in the meeting in the city’s Executive Committee.

Recall, art-residence was created on the initiative of the Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin and writer Ildar Abuzyarov. It opened in December 2017. This platform provides an opportunity for writers, poets and playwrights to live in Kazan and create artworks related to the history, culture and the modern environment of the city.

Sergey Shargunov is one of the most popular contemporary authors. His books have been translated into Italian, English, French, Serbian, they have won many Russian and international awards. In addition, he is a laureate of the national award "The Big Book", Italian awards “Arcobaleno” and "Moscow-Penne", Gorky’s name literary prize, twice finalist of the “National Bestseller” Award.

The writer is also known for his active life position: he is a deputy of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation of the VII convocation since October 5, 2016. He is engaged in journalism, takes part in radio and television programs.

Sergei Shargunov has told Ilsur Metshin that he had been to Kazan twice before. "Kazan is very beautiful. Yesterday we strolled along the embankment, visited the university. I was here in 1994 and 2006, and every time it’s a completely different city. Now the city is wonderful,"- the writer shared his impressions of the city. Speaking about the art-residence, Sergei Shargunov noted that this is a unique project.

During the meeting, the Mayor of Kazan and writers discussed the development of the cultural environment in the cities, the ways to make the Tatarstan and Kazan authors more recognizable in the country. During the meeting Ilsur Metshin and Sergei Shargunov talked about the festival "Aksenov-fest" and the "Star Ticket" award, which became a platform where young people could realize themselves, about Vasily Aksenov and Maxim Gorky, the 150th anniversary of whom’s birth was celebrated this week. We remind that the life of both writers was connected with Kazan.

At the end of the meeting, Ilsur Metshin thanked Sergei Shargunov for his coming to Kazan. "The first writers have already visited the art-residence, the reviews are good. I am confident that this project will enrich the palette of the cultural life of Kazan, both youth and older generation. I wish this project to last long,"- the Mayor said. It should be mentioned that writers Natalia Yakushina, Alexei Arzamazov, deputy editor-in-chief of the magazine Yunost Igor Mikhailov have already become the guests of the residence, the last plans to create a separate issue with the works of Tatarstan authors.

Ilsur Metshin invited Sergei Shargunov to the “Aksenov Fest” and shared his hope that visits of the Russian writer to Kazan would become a good tradition. "Look at the writers and the readers with a new view. Your wishes, advices, a sharp writer's view will be very useful for me as a Mayor,"- the head of the city said. Sergei Shargunov gifted Mayor one of his books.

Recall that today in the house-museum of Aksenov the meeting with Sergei Shargunov will take place. He will present his recently published works, including the prose collection "Svoi" and the book from the series of the Life of a Great People "Kataev. Chasing after an eternal spring” to the Kazan readers. Moderator of the event- initiator and curator of "Old-Tatar Sloboda" art-residense, writer Ildar Abuzyarov.